BMW Engine Oil Pressure Switch - Genuine BMW 12611715504

Product Information

The engine oil pressure switch detects oil pressure and sends a signal to the ECU, most specifically for use in the dashboard warning light (“genie lamp”). This ensures that if there is a sudden loss of oil pressure, then the driver is warned and can safely come to a stop. Without oil pressure, the engine can catastrophically fail, so if you are diagnosing a suspected oil pressure problem, the oil pressure switch should be inspected. Oil pressure switches differ from oil pressure sensors which output a range, rather than just on or off. Modern cars may use a sensor instead of a switch to get additional oil pressure data for the ECU to use.

The switch itself is usually a small threaded metal body that screws into an oil passageway in the block, head, or occasionally the oil filter housing. A very small hole on the end allows ingress of engine oil, and inside the switch, there is a diaphragm and an electrical component. When oil pressure is pressed on the diaphragm, contact is made, and the electrical circuit is completed.

Engine oil pressure switches are very simple, so when they fail the issue generally isn’t with the pressure sensing mechanism itself. Rather, faults with this switch are more common with the electrical connector and its terminals, as well as oil leaks. If your oil light stays on when starting the engine, and nothing else has changed, inspect the wiring to the sensor before assuming the worst. Engine oil pressure switches are usually designed to be installed with the socket going over the electrical connector, so keep in mind the size socket you may need when replacing your oil pressure switch.

• Electrical connector failure: The engine oil pressure switch is subjected to high heat and chemical conditions, which can degrade the plastic and wear the terminals. If the electrical connector is broken or loose, the oil warning light may not extinguish.
• Internal failure: While not as common, if the internal diagram is sticky or may have been out of a car for a long period as a used part, the reading might be sluggish or stuck.
• External oil leaks: It is very common for an oil pressure sensor to leak oil after many years and miles. Sometimes the oil sealing ring is captured on the threads so if an external oil leak occurs the whole switch should be replaced.
• Internal oil leaks: It’s possible for an internal oil leak to make it past the electrical seals and into the electrical connector. It’s important to catch a failure like this early, to avoid oil from wicking up into the vehicle harness.

About Genuine BMW

The original parts used by BMW to build your car are available as replacement parts under the “Genuine BMW” brand. When ordering a Genuine BMW part you are guaranteed to get the same part that you would pick up from your local dealerships part department. Genuine BMW parts have been built to BMW’s stringent standards and are the same quality of the original parts used to build your Ultimate Driving Machine.

You may not realize this, but the parts that make up your BMW are not necessarily manufactured by BMW. No cause for concern, as BMW designs the part, hires a manufacturer, and ensures its quality to you. In fact, many of these manufacturers have been making parts for BMW for decades. In our industry these manufacturers are called OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers), and these are often brands you recognize, including Lemforder, ZF, Sachs, Bosch, Valeo, Zimmermann, Siemens VDO, Corteco, and more. Don’t be surprised to open that Genuine BMW parts box and find an OEM branded part inside, simply with the addition of a BMW logo.

Be sure to keep an eye out for OE tags on our product pages to quickly identify parts coming direct from OE manufacturers. That extra bit of insight could save you some serious money while shopping! Refer to our OE Academy for further information regarding the OE/OEM tags throughout the site.